Sunday, October 30, 2011

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TD No. 2 turned sweet 16 yesterday - 'and never been kissed?' I asked her, which was met with her almost chocking into her drink. Don't want to know.

She decided months ago she wanted to celebrate with her favourite (American) tradition and have a Halloween party. It continues to amaze me how sociable this current generation is. Though it shouldn't surprise me at all when I consider the extent of current social media and the constancy of it all. I remember when I was a teen, being so shy I could barely talk on the phone and my social life consisted of the occasional sleepover, a blue light disco every now and again and going into the city to see a movie was an adventure.

Anyway, where was I? The Halloween party...this tradition has been slowly taking off over here in the last couple of years but TD No. 2 is mad about it and by American standards, I thought our level of enthusiasm for decorating and dressing up was pretty lame, but some of the costumes that turned up last night were fantasic. I've spent the last couple of weeks searching for and hoarding as many decorations I could find - cobwebs (I could've just not cleaned for the past three months and had the real thing); spiders (ditto); bloody footprints (...no, had to buy those); skulls (I could've cracked a few) etc. I then spent all of last week keeping the house clean for the 15 teenage guests we were expecting. That's a feat in it's own, keeping the house clean with two teens, one pre-teen, a reasonably tidy husband, a dog and a cat living in the one place at the one time.

Nevertheless, last night when they all arrived on our doorstep, the house was clean but decorated to look dirty. We put red cellophane over the light bulbs to give off that eerie hellish glow; the ceiling was decorated with cobwebs and spiders; the floor was trailed with blood spatters and bloody footprints and we had a suitable Halloween soundtrack blarring, complete with blood curdling screams, chainsaws and evil laughter. With No. 1 son set up at the front door dressed in his scream mask, holding his plastic hatchet and my wicked witch impersonation inviting them in through the intercom, we had a few of them who were even too scared to enter. Everyone went all out with the constumes, though some were a bit questionable (a pimp?). We served (human) meat pies complete with bloody tomato sauce and plastic flies sitting on top; sausage rolls and cockroaches; and for the odd vegetarian - samosa's and springrolls. The birthday cake was an ice-cream pumpkin.

They screamed, danced and talked the night away and when hubby and I went down to bid everyone a good night, we couldn't believe the state of the place! It still looks like a nightclub at 5 o'clock in the morning. Despite putting bins downstairs for rubbish, everyone just decided to leave lolly wrappers, plates, empty and half empty cans of drink and even toilet paper from someone's costume lying everywhere - even outside. I don't know about you, but I have never taken something from a wrapper and just thrown it on someone's living room floor!!

Anyway, TD No. 2 had such a great night. Hope she remembers that when she helps us clean it all up - again!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Yesterday morning during breakfast, I went on a rant about how all I do is run around after everyone and I'm so tired and how on earth am I going to do anything over Summer Semester with the kids home on holidays - it'll be 'take me here, take me there' and why am I even bothering trying to get a degree, what's the point? I'll never be able to use it anyway, I'll be too old, no-one will want me, my best years are over...whinge, whinge, moan, moan. I then stormed off into my bedroom to have a little weep about how unfair my life is...whinge, whinge, moan, moan.

Little did I realise No. 1 son was in the kitchen making his breakfast, listening to every single gripe that spewed forth from my lips. After about half an hour, he knocked on my bedroom door and told me he'd washed and wiped all the breakfast dishes so I wouldn't have to do it. Oh, the guilt! After giving him a big snuggle, I quickly explained that he wasn't the reason I felt this way to which he replied, 'I know, I just wanted to do something nice for you.' Still racked with guilt, I dropped him off at school and again reiterated my morning pity party was not because of him. As he shut the door and crossed the road, he turned and blew me a kiss.

I sobbed all the way home, up the stairs and on my bed for about an hour. Who am I kidding? My life is great. As No. 1 Son says, suck it up, princess.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Usually all I do is walk around thinking about how much I hate being at home - driving kids everywhere, preparing meals, doing washing, cleaning, vacuuming and wondering WHEN IS IT ALL GOING TO END?!!! Yesterday was my birthday and I went and had a two hour guilt-free pamper - facial, hot rock massage and manicure. I walked out of that spa feeling as if I was walking on air. Why don't I treat myself to something like that more often?

This morning I woke up and instead of thinking 'same shit, different day', I let go and decided to just enjoy it while I can. I'm lucky I don't have to go out and try and find a job; I'm lucky I can be here and have my house clean every day - just the way I like it; I'm lucky I don't have to stress about my future. At the moment I'm in a holding pattern; I'm in limbo until Summer Semester starts and I can get back to doing what I absolutely love (not the stress, just the learning). Now I realise I'm not the only one who feels slightly displaced when uni has temporarily finished, after reading this post by Studying Parent. Many of us academic types (no, I really don't want to be an academic, but you get my meaning), feel out of sorts when we're waiting for our turn to take off again!

And my new promise to myself is that for each semester I do well, I'm going to treat myself to a couple of hours in the spa and I'll be all glammed up, confident and ready to reach for the stars again. Ciao!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

...it's just that I finally feel confident enough to do whatever the hell I like! Each star represents each of my beautiful children and I may add colour later but for now, I'm quite happy with its subtlety. What's even cooler is that my 62 year old mum got one too - a question mark on her left thumb. I don't think the tattoo artist knew what hit him when we walked in. He was pretty unfazed though -he had an 80 year old getting his first one not so long ago. Nowadays, it's just like getting your ears pierced and I'm already planning my next one - I'm taking SH No. 1 with me to get initials on our ring fingers for our 20th wedding anniversary.

Now I'm off to celebrate another year of life at a chocolate high tea with 10 of my favourite women. Carpe diem.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

In an effort to become a more disciplined blogger and make regular posts, I thought I'd fill you in on all the exciting projects I've taken up. 'Exciting' is a little tongue-in-cheek - I'm trying to build it up for you!

I finally finished my ballerina cross-stitch for my neice. It only took me about two and a half years and in my haste to give it to her for her sixth birthday, I forgot to take a photo of it to share. Nevertheless, it is finished, framed and at last, hanging in her bedroom. There's nothing quite like the appreciation and recognition you get when you can finally display your handiwork. My sister-in-law was so impressed, she gave me a big hug and sang my praises to all who would listen - which didn't include my brother. When she pointed my work of art out to him, filled with brotherly love, he said 'Yeah, that's alright'. Well, I didn't really expect that much to be honest! Now I'm on to my next project - hangers and scented pillows for my 92 year old Nan. I know she'll appreciate my craftiness, after all I get my love of needlework from her.

I have also rediscovered my love of gardening in the last couple of weeks. Not that I have a very big garden but I do have lots and lots of pots which have been somewhat neglected since I started uni, so on Saturday I chopped everything back, gave them a fresh dose of potting mix and lots of water and sunshine. On Monday, I went to the nursery and bought Geraniums for the poolside, Petunias for the verandah and a Mock Orange (Orange Jasmine) for the front yard. I had forgotten how much I loved gardening! Photos will be posted as soon as this unseasonably rainy weather has stopped and everything starts growing. Oh, how I love Spring.

Don't you just love the way I've talked up my sometimes endless hours of boredom and despair? Although I have enjoyed rediscovering these hobbies, I'm starting to feel like an old age pensioner and am hanging out for summer semester to start!

I've done it!!!

Well, I've finally done it!! Got accepted into Uni AND created a blog!!! After searching for insightful websites to help me tackle my journey into academia at my ripe old age and coming up with nil, I decided to start one of my own. I hope this blog will encourage anyone who has ever doubted their own abilities, to put one foot in front of the other and achieve their ambitions, desires, dreams...no matter what they are. If anyone has any inspiring stories to share, I would love to hear them. I love an inspiring story!!!